Japan Is Facing Prospect
Of Central Bank Vacancy

By

Yuka Hayashi

Updated March 18, 2008 12:01 a.m. ET

TOKYO -- On the eve of Toshihiko Fukui's retirement as Japan's central bank chief, the government's struggle to come up with a candidate to succeed him put Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's political leadership under close scrutiny.

The government was expected to submit a new nominee to lawmakers on Tuesday but still faced the possibility of having no central bank governor, at least temporarily, after Mr. Fukui steps down Wednesday. Talks...